A slave is someone who sits down, and waits for someone to free them. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
I escaped from slavery and became a leading abolitionist and speaker. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
This war, disguise it as they may, is virtually nothing more or less than perpetual slavery against universal freedoms. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“most successful one was that of tarring his fence all around; after which, if a slave was caught” — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
I didn't know I was a slave until I found out I couldn't do the things I wanted. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
The Federal Government was never, in its essence, anything but an anti-slavery government. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Abolition of slavery had been the deepest desire and the great labor of my life — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
There is not a man beneath the canopy of Heaven who does not know that slavery is wrong for him. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Did John Brown fail? John Brown began the war that ended American slavery and made this a free Republic. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
My great and exceeding joy over these stupendous achievements, especially over the abolition of slavery (which had been the deepest desire and… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Money is the measure of morality, and the success or failure of slavery as a money-making system, determines with many whether...it should… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Experience demonstrates that there may be a wages of slavery only a little less galling and crushing in its effects than chattel… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
I have observed this in my experience of slavery, that whenever my condition was improved, instead of increasing my contentment; it only… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
[John Brown's] zeal in the cause of freedom was infinitely superior to mine. Mine was as the taper light, his was as… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
It was a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of slavery. My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
From my earliest recollection, I date the entertainment of a deep conviction that slavery would not always be able to hold me… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
John Brown's zeal in the cause of freedom was infinitely superior to mine. Mine was as the taper light; his was as… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
I have often sung to drown my sorrow, but seldom to express my happiness. Crying for joy, and singing for joy, were… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Abolish slavery tomorrow, and not a sentence or syllable of the Constitution need be altered. It was purposely so framed as to… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me. When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
The Constitutional framers were peace men; but they preferred revolution to peaceful submission to bondage. They were quiet men; but they did… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“We are sometimes asked in the name of patriotism to forget the merits of this fearful struggle [the Civil War], and to… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“I may be deemed superstitious, and even egotistical, in regarding this event as a special interposition of divine Providence in my favor.… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those songs would do more to impress some minds with the horrible character… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“If at any one time of my life more than another, I was made to drink the bitterest dregs of slavery, that… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“Thus, when the slave asks for virtuous freedom, the cunning slaveholder, knowing his ignorance, cheats him with a dose of vicious dissipation,… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“She had been the source of all his wealth; she had peopled his plantation with slaves; she had become a great grandmother… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the south is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes, - a justifier… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Grandmother pointed out my brother Perry, my sister Sarah, and my sister Eliza, who stood in the group. I had never seen… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers. I could regard them in no other… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
I expose slavery in this country, because to expose it is to kill it. Slavery is one of those monsters of darkness… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“A man must be disposed to judge of emancipation by other tests than whether it has increased the produce of sugar,—and to… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
Interpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a glorious liberty document. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share Image
“A treacherous President stood in the way; and it can be easily seen how reluctant good men might be to admit an apostasy which… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
“But I should be false in the earliest sentiments of my soul, if I suppressed the opinion. I prefer to be true to myself,… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
A man who will enslave his own blood, may not be safely relied on for magnamity. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
“I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the south is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes, - a justifier of the… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the South is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes—a justifier of the most appalling… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
“We have all met a class of men, very remarkable for their activity, and who yet make but little headway in life; men who,… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
“The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the influence of… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
A battle lost or won is easily described, understood, and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
I have observed this in my experience of slavery, that whenever my condition was improved, instead of increasing my contentment; it only increased my… — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. — Frederick Douglass Copy Share
![“[John Brown's] zeal in the cause of freedom was infinitely superior to mine. Mine was as the taper light, his was as the burning sun... I could speak for the slave. John Brown could fight for the slave.” quote by Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/4fd/frederick-douglass-859_brown_john-brown-s-zeal-in-the-cause-of-freedo_2577065.png)
![“We are sometimes asked in the name of patriotism to forget the merits of this fearful struggle [the Civil War], and to remember with equal admiration those who struck at the nation’s life, and those who struck to save it—those who fought for slavery, and those who fought for liberty and justice. I…” quote by Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/886/frederick-douglass-859_civil-war_we-are-sometimes-asked-in-the-name-of-pa_1761326.jpg)
